Safety brake connection



' May 18 1926. 1,584,874

F. W. LEWIS SAFETY BRAKE CONNECTION Filed Jan. 30, 1925 patented May 18, 1926 TES Iran *s'r FRANK V. LEWIS, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

SAFETY BRAKE CONNECTION.

Application filed January This invention. relates to safety brake connections.

In the operation of railroad trains, many dengerousarid destructive accidents have occurred due to working loose and consequent loss of the pivot pins ordinarily provided to secure the bottom connecting rods and brake levers together, the accit'lental disconnect-ion of'such pins resulting 1 dropping of the'connection rod onto "tl track, and should this occur While the train in motion, which usually is the case, there danger of derailment-,or ot the rod piercing the floor of the car and otherwise causing considerable damage. The failure of such connecting pins is-caused :most frequently by Wearing through of the cotters commonly used to secure such pins, the wear being quite rapid dueto the constant vibration and movement of the parts.

An object of thednvention, therefore, is to provide a connection hetween the bottom connecting rodof the "hra'ke', and the brake lever, which is ofsuchcharacter as to positively prevent the dropping of the bottom rod even though the connecting pin between such rod i and brakelever oecom'esdisengaged, and this result.'is accomplished by the pro vision of detechably interlocking ab ut-nients provided on the bottom rod lj ai'v and brake lever, which retain said "members against separation upon accidental removal of the connecting pimandso arranged that they do not intere with theoperation-or adjust mentof the parts.

ln'elesser degreeythecotcer which is used to secure the fulcrum pin of the hrzihe lever in proper position with respect to the brake beam'strut, isalso subject'to weaiywith the dangerof disconnection of the fulcrum pin, Which would result in the dropping of both the hot-tomrod and the brakelever onto the track; and a further object of the invention is to providesuch brake lever 'With removable means arranged to abut the brake beain strutto prevent the dropping of the brake lever-and bottomrod in the event oi accidental disengagen'ient of the fulcriun Ut-h'er and further objects of the invention 30, 1925. Serial No. 5,804.

will appear more clearly from the description and claims hereinafter following.

Figure 1 a side elevation of a fragment of a brake lever, brake beam and strut,,anda bottoni rod pivotally connected with the brake lever, showing my invention in connection therewith; Figure Bis-a front elevation of a brake lever showing the same fulcrun'ied intermediate its ends in the brake beam strut, indicated in section, the lower portion of said figure corresponding to a transverse section taken on the line ,3.3 of Figure l, and showing the applicationof the lllk-GllilOihfiIl-{l F igure isa perspective view of the forked portion of .a bottom rod con? structed in tCC-O1'(li-il1(f with my invention.

In the drawings, the bra e leveris represented generally by the reference character A, and the connecting rod denoted by the referencecharacter vl3. The'brake lever A is arranged to extend between the spaced side members 10 and 11,0f the usual brake beam strut which is suitablyconnected to the brake beam 12, which also may he of any usual construction, such brake :levyer being provided with an opening arranged toreceiive the fulcrum pin :14, which is passed through the side members .10 and 1.1 of the brake beam strut, said fulcrum pin being provided With cotter in the usualman ner. 'lheupper end of the ln-alieilev-er l-i is adepteo to he confined in {a suitable guide, not shown, in the ordinary manner.

The connecting rod B arranged :to he pivotall secured to the lower end of the brake lever lh-b"l]1EEi 1lS-Of a 'pivot pin 16, which extendsthrough the lov-ser end of the brake leverii, and through the forkedends 1? of the-connecting rod B, the pivot pin 16 being usually provided with a head 18 arranged to bear against the outer side of onefurcation oft'he *torhed member 1?,nnd a cotter 19 heing extended through'the opposite end portion of' the pivot pin 16, and arranged to abut against the side otthe other furcation of the forked portion ofthe connecting rod. As shown, the forked portions 17 of the connecting rod Biare providedn'ith a plnralityof openingsQ-O, through any of which the pivot pin 16 maybe extended so he necessary :u'ljustnients beeve i and connecting rod ted that should the 1 ircni the connectlever l-y reason of the :iion of the cotter pin 1:), it is evident that the pivot pin 6 will soon drop out due to the vibration to which the parts are subjected, and the connecting rod B will drop onto the track. in actual practice, such accidental disconnection of the parts is of relatively frequent occurrence, 'ausin considerable damage and delay in the operation of trains.

My invention contemplates means which positively prevent dropping of the connecting rod even though the pivot pin 1t becomes accidentally disengaged. This is accon'iplished by providing the lower end of the brake lever A with bosses 21 and on the opposite sides thereof, such bosses in the preferred form of construction being annular in form and providing ahutments which surround the aperture in the brake lever, through which the pivot pin 16 passes, although such bosses may be disposed in any suitable location as will be appreciated, and one or more may be utilized as desired.

The forked portions 17 of the connecting rod B are also provided with abutments, which are arranged to interengage with the abutments provided by the bosses 21 and 22. The abutments on the forked portion of the connecting rod B are preferably in the form of inwardly disposed ribs 23 and 2ft, such ribs being arranged to engage the bosses 21 and when the pivot pin 16 is removed from its holding position, the distance between the forked portions of the connecting rod below the abutments 23 and 24 being of sufficient extent to admit the bosses 21 and 22 therebetween. Additional abutments 25 and 26 are provided at the forward ends of the forked portions, such abutments extending downwardly from the abutments 23 and 2a, to the bottom of the forked portions, and the rear w ll connectingthe forked members, provides an abutment at the rear ends of the forked portions, there being no abutments upon the bottom edges of the porked portions, thereby permitting the insertion of the bosses 21 and 22 between the abutments. It will be appreciated that only one boss may be employed on the brake lever, and only one end and top rib employed upon the adjacent forked member if the parts are properly proportioned to fit snugly and this construction may be utilized if deemed desir-able.

By this arrangementit will be evident that should the pin 16 become accidentally disengaged. that a slight dropping of the connecting rod will cause the abutments 23 and 21- to engage with the bosses 21 and 22, preventing further downward movement,

and that the forward abutinents 25 and 26, and connecting wall 27 will prevent detachment of the connecting rod due to longitudinal movement thereof with reference to the bosses 21 and 22. It is also apparent that by the provision of the abutments at the forward and rear ends of the forked portions of the connecting rod on either side of the apertures 20, that relative adjustment of the brake lever with reference to the connecting rod is permitted by disengaging the pin it; from the forward aperture and engaging the same with the rear aperture, without alfecting the operation of the abutments to retain the connecting rod against dropping onto the track when the pivot pin 16 is accidentally disengaged from its position in either of said apertures.

An important advantage of the above described safety device over those cmnnionly used, resides in the fact that the safety means form part of, and are formed integrally with the connecting rod and brake lever, in such a manner that the safety means must be necessarily brought into operation by the mere action of placing the pivot pin in position, requiring no thought or additional effort on the part of the workman in assembling the device, since all that is necessary for him to do is to place the end of the brake lever within the forked position of the connecting rod, and insert the pivot pin. All other safety devices include means which have the serious drawback, in that the safety devices are separately applied, and require care, thought, and additional labor to apply the same, with the consequence that due to haste or carelessness on the part of the workman, such devices frequently fail to perform the function for which they are intended, and when it is considered that any one of such failures might cause serious accident. the advantage of-my construction, necessitating absolutely no through or care on the part of the workman, and which must be necessarily engaged when the pivot pin is placed in position, becomes clearl apparent.

To prevent the dropping of the brake lever A. and connecting rod B should the fulcrum pin let become accidentally disengaged from the brake beam strut members 10 11, I provide a removable bolt or pin 30 which extends through the brake lever A. a short distance above the strut, such bolt in this instance being held in position by a suitable nut 31. It will be evident that should the pin 13 become disengaged from the strut, that the slight dropping of the brake lever will bring the bolt 30 into abutment with the sides 10 and 11 of the strut. thereby effectually preventing further dropping ol the brake lever and connecting rod onto the track.

hile I have herein shown and described what. I nowronsider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative, and Icontemplate all changes and modifications that come Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. in a device of the character described, the combinationavith brake operating members; securing means movably connecting said members; and independent means arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said securing means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with brake operating members; securing means movably connecting said members; and independent means arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said securing means, said independent means being in the form of inter-engaging abutments on said members. i

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with brake operating members; securing means movably connecting said members; and independent means arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said securing means, said independent means being in the form of inter-engaging abntments on said members, said abutinents being omitted at certain portions to permit intentional engagement or disengagement of such abutments.

l. ln a device of the character described, the combination With brake operating members having a plurality of connecting por tions to permit adjustment of said members relative to each other; securing means ad justably engageable With said connecting portions for inovably connecting said memher and independent means arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said securing means, said independent means being in the form of i tor-engaging abutments disposed in posiion to operate in the various adjusted posiions of said brake members.

in a device of the character described, the combination with brake operating memone of said members having a forked be PSlLlOll and the other of said members having porton adapted to be disposed bet een the iurcations of said forked member; and inter-engaging abutments on said members arranged to retain the same against separation in all directions, except in a direction substantially opposite to a force acting to retain said abntments in engagement (5. In a device of the character described, the combination With a brake lever and connecting rod of a brake, said connecting rod having a forked portion adapted to receive a portion of said brake lever therein: a connecting pin for pivotally securing said members together; bosses formed on said brake lever; and abutments formed on the inner faces of said forked member, said abntments being arranged to coact with said l: .i s to prevent se-paratioijz in the absence or said connecting pin.

'4'. in a device of the character described, thecom bination with a brake lever and connecting rod of a brake, said connecting rod having a forked portion adapted to receive a oortio'n of said brake lever therein; a confting pin for pivotally securing said menitors together; bosses formed on said bralze lever and abutinents formed on the inner faces of said forked member, said abutments being arranged to coact With said bosses to prevent separation in the absence of said connecting pin, said forked portion being provided with a plurality of openings for *djustable reception of said connecting pin, said abntn'ients being arranged to permit relative adjustment between the connecting rod and brake lever Without becoming in operative.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a brake lever and sup porting strut; a connecting rod connected to said brake lever; an abutment secured to said brake lever above said strut in position to engage the same should said fulcrum pin become accidentally disengaged; and abutments on the lower end of said brake lever adapted to inter-engage With abutment-s on related portions of said connecting rod.

9. In a safety device of the character described, the combination with two elements pivotally connected together, said pivotal connection normally preventing one of said elements from falling under the influence of gravity, one of said elements being forked, and the other of said elements disposed between the forked portions of said first element, said elements having on adjacent opposed faces coo er ble projections so arranged that upon removal of the pivot connection, said projections engage to prevent the separation of one of said elements from the other.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with two members having means adapted to provide a pivotal connection therebetive'en; of safety means coinprisinter-enoa i ng abutments on said niemners so arranged that they are operatively engaged by placing said members in position to connect said. pivot means.

ll. As an article of manufacture, a brake connecting rod having a forked portion provided with safety abutments including inwardly extending ribs disposed adjacentcc"- tain edges of the forked members to restrict the opening therebetiveen. I

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with brake operating incmhers; securing means movably connecting said members; and independent means arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said securing means,

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& 1,584,874

said independent means being disposed in spaced rehition while said securing means are in position and connecting said members.

3. In :1 device of the character described, the. comhii'nition with n brake lever and connecting rod; securing IIIQQDS niovabiy connecting said members; and independent inenns arranged to retain said members against separation in the absence of said se curing means, said independent means being in the form of inter-engaging :bntments.

In Witness that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this flit day of Jenner 1925.

FRAXK VF. TQEWII 

